John Amos
Known for Acting · 110 credits
- Born
- 1939-12-27
- Died
- 2024-08-21
- Place of birth
- Newark, New Jersey, USA
- Also known as
- Jon Amos · Johnny Amos · John A. Amos Jr. · John Allen Amos Jr.
Biography
John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021).
Prior to acting, he played on the Colorado State Rams football team and in 1964, he signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Denver Broncos and in 1967 signed a free agent contract with the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs. Both of these contracts did not land him a spot on the teams and played a final season in the Continental Football League with the Victoria Steelers before pursuing acting.
Known For
TV Shows (48)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
Two and a Half Men
2003
as Ed
Psych
2006
as Uncle Burton
The Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self
The West Wing
1999
as Percy Fitzwallace
King of the Hill
1997
as Glen Johnson (voice)
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Doc Penrose
The Love Boat
1977
as Duke Taylor
30 Rock
2006
as John Amos
The A-Team
1983
as Rev. Taylor
Love, American Style
1969
as Bell Captain
The Cosby Show
1984
as Dr. Herbert
The Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
Touched by an Angel
1994
as James Mackey
My Name Is Earl
2005
as Joe
Lie to Me
2009
as Jim Weaver
The Outer Limits
1995
as Peter 'Yas' Yastrzemski
Hunter
1984
as Capt. Dolan (uncredited)
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
1970
as Gordy Howard
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Pastor Roscoe Jones
Martin
1992
as Sgt. Strawn
The District
2000
as Ethan Baker
Royal Pains
2009
as Harrison Phillips
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
1990
as Fred Wilkes
Ballers
2015
as Deacon Eller
Hardcastle and McCormick
1983
as Albie Meadows
Sanford and Son
1972
Dinah!
1974
as Self
Good Times
1974
as James Evans Sr.
The Ranch
2016
as Ed
Police Story
1973
as Walt Kyles
Roots
1977
as Toby / Kunta Kinte
In the House
1995
The Last O.G.
2018
as Uncle D
Suits LA
2025
as John Amos
The Movies That Made Us
2019
as Self
Men in Trees
2006
as Buzz Washington
The Chris Rock Show
1997
as Self
The New Dick Van Dyke Show
1971
as Mark Cooper
NYC 22
2012
as Pappy Science
Here's Boomer
1981
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
All About the Andersons
2003
as Joe Anderson
Future Cop
1977
as Bill Bundy
704 Hauser
1994
as Ernie Cumberbatch
Beauty and the Beast
1987
as Farrell
The Funny Side
1971
as Minority Husband
Roots: The Complete Miniseries
1977
as Older Kunta Kinte
Movies (62)
Die Hard 2
1990
as Major Grant
Lock Up
1989
as Captain Meissner
Uncut Gems
2019
as Neighbor 33F
Coming to America
1988
as Cleo McDowell
Coming 2 America
2021
as Cleo McDowell
Me Time
2022
as Gil
The Beastmaster
1982
as Seth
Vanishing Point
1971
as Super Soul's Engineer
Ricochet
1991
as Reverend Styles
Dr. Dolittle 3
2006
as Jud
American Flyers
1985
as Dr. Conrad
Hologram Man
1995
as Wes Strickland
Two Evil Eyes
1990
as Det. Legrand
Bad Asses on the Bayou
2015
as Earl
Madea's Witness Protection
2012
as Pastor Nelson
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: "All in the Family" and "Good Times"
2019
as Fred Davis
The Truth About Santa Claus
2020
as Bob
Block Party
2022
as Dennis
The Players Club
1998
as Freeman
The Last Rifleman
2023
as Lincoln Jefferson Adams
Mac
1992
as Nat
My Baby's Daddy
2004
as Uncle Virgil
Disappearing Acts
2000
as Mr. Swift
Mary Tyler Moore: A Celebration
2015
as Self / Gordy Howard (archive footage)
The World's Greatest Athlete
1973
as Coach Sam Archer
Let's Do It Again
1975
as Kansas City Mack
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
2016
as Self
TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
2004
as (archive footage)
Willa
1979
as Virgil
Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song
1971
as Biker
Christmas Belles
2019
as Pop Pop
Future Cop
1976
as Officer Bill Bundy
The President's Plane Is Missing
1973
as Marine Corporal
The Rockford Files: Shoot-Out at the Golden Pagoda
1997
as Booker Hutch
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
1980
as Bumpy Johnson
Voodoo Moon
2006
as Dutch
Shark's Paradise
1986
as Taxi Driver
Countdown
2004
as Admiral Melory
Bonanza: The Next Generation
1988
as Mr. Mack
American Lowrider
2013
as Slick
Night Trap
1993
as Capt. Hodges
For Better or Worse
1995
as Gray
Something to Sing About
2000
as Rev. Washington
Shadowboxing
2005
as Хилл
Touched by Love
1980
as Tony
All Over Again
2007
as Coach Zeller
Cops and Robin
1978
as Officer Bill Bundy
Zombie Hamlet
2012
as Edgar Mortimer
Ascension Day
2007
as Henry
Tamales and Gumbo
2015
as The Patron
Dance of the Dwarfs
1983
as Esteban
Future Cop: Cops and Robin
as Officer Bundy
Mercy for Angels
2015
as God
The Watermelon Heist
2003
as Old Man Amos
The Beastmaster Chronicles
2020
as Self
Remembering Roots
2002
as Self
Devotion
as Roger
Act of Faith
2014
as Mr. Brady
Christmas in Miami
2021
as Chief Host
Information Processing
as Self
Because of Charley
2021
as Grandpa
John Amos: Roots of an American Legend
as Self
About John Amos
John Amos (December 27, 1939 – August 21, 2024) was an American actor and retired football player. He is best known for his role as the adult Kunta Kinte in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and for portraying James Evans Sr. on the CBS television series "Good Times." He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award. On film, he played numerous supporting roles in movies such as "The Beastmaster" (1982), "Coming to America" (1988), "Lock Up" (1989), "Die Hard 2" (1990) and "Coming 2 America" (2021). Prior to acting, he played… With 110 credits spanning from 1961 to 2025, John Amos has appeared in 62 films and 48 TV shows.
Fans searching for John Amos movies, John Amos filmography, or the latest projects starring John Amos can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular John Amos Movies
- Die Hard 2 (1990) — as Major Grant
- Lock Up (1989) — as Captain Meissner
- Uncut Gems (2019) — as Neighbor 33F
- Coming to America (1988) — as Cleo McDowell
- Coming 2 America (2021) — as Cleo McDowell
Where to Watch John Amos Films
Most John Amos movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring John Amos, check our movies catalogue and browse page.